Supporting device



Dec. 13, 1932.

r. M. KEEFE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed se t'. 26, 1950 Patented Dec. 13,1932 UNITED STATES FATEEQT @FFICE THOMAS M. KEEFE, OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS, ASLEEGNOE TO P. EUSTIS MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OFCAMBRIDGE, I/IASSACl-EUSEETS, A CGRPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTSSUPPGRTTNG DEVICE Application filed September 26, 1930. Serial No.484,586.

The present invention relates to supporting devices of that type. whichis used for fastening and supporting fixtures, such as v 7 hardware,lighting fixtures, and, especially, lavatory andbathroom accessories, towall surfaces, Whether of marble, tile, glass, cement, concrete, brick,plaster or wood; In this type of supporting device the means forfastening and supporting are usually concealed.

The architectual profession and interior decorators, as Well as thepublic, demand fixtures for lavatories and bathrooms and inte- ,riordecorative purposes, particularly, to 5have exposed surfaces which arefree from crevices, obtrusive screws, etc., which afford lodging placesfor dirt and bacteria, and which fixtures may be quickly andsymmetrifiwcally mounted, and which remain rigid and 2 secure in thepositions in which they are fixed.

The difiiculties with concealed screw attachments now available aremany, in some cases more, and in others less; for example,

there are prior devices of this type wherein "set-screws are employedfor the purpose of securing a supported part to 'a supporting part, insuch a way as to conceal the screws which enter the wall or surface towhich the .,entire device is fastened, such set-screws :io'tending toforce the stem of the supporting part a ainst the top, or some otherpoint of the sodket in the fixture or supported part,

and throws out of align the base "surface of .the flange of thesupporting device. Also,

'the objectionable feature is encountered, in

that the holding strain is not evenly distributed in the fixture socketor on the supportingdevice stem, but comes mostly on the set- .screW.

The present invention aims to overcome such difiiculties and to presentcertain advantages, for example,the following the support ing device canbe quickly fastened to a wall with wood screws, expansion bolts,expansion shields, toggle bolts, or any of the devices commonly used forsuch purpose; in a few moments the fixture may be assembled with, andfastened to, the supporting device, so that the base of the fixture willbe brought 5 in close contact with the Wall and there held immovable andsecure by expanding the specially constructed stem of the supportingdevice into the socket of the supported part or fixture and thesupporting device lines up with the base of the fixture, thereby presentmg a symmetrical disposition of the mutually attachedparts.

The above being among the many objects and advantages of the presentinvention, the same consists of certain features of construction andcombinations of parts, to be hereinafter described and then claimed withreference to the accompanying drawing illustrating desirable embodimentsof the invention, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a'sectional elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthe invention;

Fig.2 is a side elevation of the supporting part or member shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the supporting part, as viewed from theterminal of its stem;

Fig. i is a transverse cross-section of the connected supporting andsupported parts or members;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View of the complete assembled device,the section be ing taken at right angles to the section in F 1 F 6 is asectional elevation of a modified construction 7 is a side elevation ofthe supporting part or member shown in Fig. 6, the view being taken atright angles to that figure; and

F 8 is a transverse section on the line 88, Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs, 1 to 5, inclusive, there is shown the preferredembodiment of the invention in connection with a hook, but of course theassembled device may take any desired exterior form to adapt it for anypurpose for which the device is suitable. The base 10, is preferably ofdisk shape and the stem 11, extends centrally from the base 10, theseparts being preferably integral, so as to constitute a one-piecesupporting part or member. The base 10, is provided on that face fromwhich the preferably cylindrical stem 11 projects, with a stud 12,parallel with stem 11. The base 10, is also usually provided with twoscrew-holes 13, 13, one at each side of the stem 11, so that the saidholes and the stem are in line. In the present instance the stud 12, islocated on a line with respect to the stem, which line is at rightangles to the line of the stem and the screwholes, and it serves as apositioning-member, as will appear herein.

Stem 11, of the supporting part or memher, is provided at its outer endportion with a transverse diametrical slot 14, which constitutes a' gapwith three open sides, that is to say, the gap is open at diametricallyopposite sides of the stud 11, and is also open at the terminal of thestem, whereby the stem is preferably bifurcated, so as to formbifurcations 15, 15. These bifurcations may be pressed apart slightlyand, when the pressure is removed, they being resilient will return totheir original positions, the stem 11, as well as the other parts of theassembled device being made of metal, such as brass or steel. In orderto provide a desirable expansion-action, a diametrical hole 9, is formedin the stem 11, at the points from which the bifurcations 15, 15,emerge, that is to say, at the bases of the bifurcations.

In the circumference of the stem 11, so as to be located at oppositesides of the gap 14, there are formed the bevel surfaces 16, 16, thesebeing so formed at the adjacent edge portions of the bifurcations 15,15, as to flare outwardly away from the longitudinal axis of the stem,as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the gap 14, bisects thestem 11,

' a and that the bevel surfaces 16, 16, form obtuse angles with thesurfaces at opposite sides of the gap 14. It will also be noted that thegap 14, lies preferably in a plane which passes through the stud 12 ofthe base 10.

The supported member 17, of any suitable form, is provided with anenlarged base 18, which is formed with arecess 18a, which is adapated tosnugly receive the base 10, of the supporting part. A preferablycylindrical bore 19, is formed in the supported part 17, 18, whichextends longitudinal to the base 18, or at right angles thereto, so asto receive the stem 11. Preferably the bore 19 is considerably longerthan the stem, as shown in Fig. 1, and when the parts are fittedtogether. there will be a very snug fit between that portion of the stemwhich lies between the base 10, and the bifurcations 15, 15, and thatportion of the bore 19, which directly surrounds said portion of thestem.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the bore 19 is enlarged as at 20, this beingdone by counterboring. The enlargement 20 is also preferablycylindrical, and its diameter need only be very slightly in excess ofthe diameter of the stem 11, such excess diameter allowing for theexpansion of the stem. that is to say, the spreading apart of thebifurcations 15, 15. In the drawing the enlargement 20, is

shown greatly exaggerated from what is needed in practice, for the sakeof making clear this portion of the invention. In practice it has beensatisfactorily proven that an expansion of the bifurcations to as low as.0025 is satisfactory, although the degree of permitted expansion may begreater, expansions to as high as .009 having proven entirelysatisfactory. However, it is to be clearly understood that withinpractical requirements there is no limit to the degree of expansion,providing, the objects and aims of the present invention areaccomplished.

A lateral screw-hole 21, is formed in the shank of the supported part17, in such position as that, when the stem 11, is properly positionedin the bore 19, the plane in which the gap 14 lies, will bisect the hole21. This means that when a set-screw 22, having a tapered and pointedportion 23, is screwed into the hole 21, the tapered surface 23, will,

be in bearing relation to the bevel surfaces 16, 16, of thebifurcations, and that the point of the screw will be entered in the.gap 14, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. It will be observed that when,as indicated in Fig. 5, the screw 22, has been screwed home, thebifurcations 15, 15 are slightly spread apart into the enlargement 20,the transverse hole 9, permitting the desired quality of expansion. Thissecurely locks the assembled parts together. It will be noticed that thescrewhole and the set-screw 22, are located in an unobtrusive positionat the bottom of the shank of the supported part or bracket.

It will be apparent that in making practical use of the illustrated anddescribed pre ferred embodiment of the invention, the sup-- porting partis first attached in any suitable manner to a wall, as by screws havingheads which are counter-sunk in the screw-holes 13, 13. When thesupporting part is secured in position, its stud 12, will be verticallybelow the stem 11. The part to be supported is provided with a socket12a, which is adapted to receive the stud 12. In assembling the parts,care is taken that when the stem 11 is caused to enter the bore 19. thesocket 12a will be in position so that the stud 12 will enter it,thereby preventing a twisting movement of the supported part around thebase 10 and stem 11 hen the parts are so assembled,

the bifurcations 15. 15, will extend into the enlargement 20, and thegap 14, together with the bevel surfaces 16, 16. will be in opposedrelation to the set-screw 22. of assembling the parts. the set-screw 22is preferably slightly out, sufiiciently so that the bevel surfaces 16,16, will easily glide along the tapered surface of the set-screw. Thesupported part being now in position, the set-screw 22 is turned home soas to cause the point of its taper 23, to enter between the adjacentdirectly-opposed surfaces of the bifurcations 15, 15, and the taperedsurface 23, to bear upon the bevel surfaces 16, 16, there- At the momentby spreading the bifurcations apart into the slight enlargement of thebore 19. Thus the assembled parts will be firmly and positively lockedtogether.

The tendency of the expansion-action on the bifurcations not only locksthe members together, but it is apparent that this will act in amannerto pull the two assembled parts together, and one axially of the otherthereby forming a close and desirable contact of the surface of the base18, with the wall to which the assembled parts are attached. The actiondescribed is obvious when it is borne in mind that the point of firstContact between the stem and the supported member, upon expansion of thebifurcations 15 of ti o stem, is where the expanded bifurcations of thestem is brought into contact with that portion of the supported memberwhere its bore is smaller, so that Continued expansion will exertendwise pressure on the supported member in the direction of its baseand thus move said member axially of the stem and make close contactwith the wall to which the assembled parts are attached, as stated.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8,the same reference numerals are employed for those features whichcorrespond to similar features in the preferred embodiment of theinvention. In the modification, the slot or gap 24, slightly differsfrom the gap 14. In the modification the gap 24, gradually widenstowards the terminal of the stem, due to the fact that the stem is cutaway, as at 25, so as to form inclines away from the longitudinal axisof the stem, and outwardly toward its terminal. As will be seen, thecut-out portion at 25 gradually enlarge inwardly (see Fig. 7), towardsthe diametrical hole 26, from which the bifurcations of the stem spring.As shown, the cut-away portions 25 at adjacent edges of thebifurcations, are beveled, as indicated by 27, so that there will be abevel surface at each side of the taper of the setscrew 22. It will beapparent that the prin ciple of expansion of the stem is substantiallythesame as in the principal form of the invention, but it will be alsoclear that by reason of the inclined surfaces at 25, 25, the tapered endof the set-screw will have a somewhat increased tendency to drawtheassembled parts together longitudinally of the stem.

On referring to Figs. 5 and 7, it will be seen that the transverse hole9 in the first figure and the transverse hole 26 in the second figureare either partially or wholly within the snug-fitting parts of thesupporting and supported members. This demonstrates that the first pointof firm contact in expanding the bifurcations is within, and at the endof, the snug-fitting portion of bore 19 and is not within theenlargement of the bore. It is clear that if such transverse hole iswithinthe said snug-fittin" portion to a less ex is susceptible to moreor less modification,

and to still-be within-the appended claims.

' What I claimas new is: -1. A supporting device comprising a tubularmember having: at one end a substantially flatbase for abutment againsta body stand ing perpendicularly to the axis of the member and having abore of varying diameter, and a stem havingvmeans for attachment to anabutment and formed with a longitudinally extending gap to produceoppositely disposed portions adapted to be spread apart, said tubularmember being mounted upon said stem and axially slidable thereon andformed with a screw-threaded hole bisected by the plane in which the gapextends, and a screw fitted in said screw-threaded hole and formed witha tapered terminal positioned to lie within the gap formed in the stemand bear against opposite walls of the separated portions of the stem,and functioning tospread apart said portions within the larger diameterof the bore of the tubular member and also move the tubular memberaxially of said stem.

2. A supporting device comprising a member formed with a longitudinallyextending bore of varying diameter lengthwise of the member, and a stemhaving means for attachment to an abutment and formed with alongitudinally extending gapto produce oppositely disposed portionsadapted to be spread apart, said gap terminating short of one end of thestem to form a part to fit snugly within the smaller diameter of thebore, said tubular formed member being mounted on said stem andaxiallyslidable thereon and formed with a screw-threaded hole bisected by theplane in which the gap extends, and'a screw fitted in saidscrew-threaded hole and formed with a tapered terminal positioned to liewithin the gap formed in the stem and bear against opposite walls of theseparated por tions of the stem and when screwed-up serving to spreadsaid separated portions in the larger diameter of the bore of thetubular member and also move the tubular member axially of the stem.

3. A supporting device comprising a member formed with a longitudinallyextending bore of varying diameter, and a stem formed with alongitudinally extending gap to produce oppositely disposed portionsadapted to be spread apart, said gap terminating short of one end of thestem to form a part to fit snugly within the smaller diameter of thebore of said tubular formed: member,; and fonned with: a: hole extendingdiametrically ofthei stem and positioned to'fit'at least arti'allywithin thesmaller diametei'xofthe' ore of? thetubular member; saidtubular: memberbeing formed with a screw-threaded hole bisected by theplane in which the gap extends, and? a. screw'fitted' in.saidscrew-threaded hole and formed with a tapered terminal positinned:to lie. within the gap formed in the stem and bear against oppositewalls of the separated portions of the stem.- and adapted whenscrewed-up to spread said-L separated portions in the'la/rgerdiameterofi the bore of the tubular member and also expand a; poi

tion' of the stem fitting in the smaller-diameter of the bore of thetubular member andfunctioning to move the tubularmember axiel l y' 0:6thestema THOMAS M. KEE'FE;

